This section outlines our school’s key areas of focus. It reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and responds to the evolving needs of our students. Whether centered on student engagement, social-emotional well-being, or academic growth, our focus guides our learning journey and informs the strategies we implement throughout the year.
For the 2025/2026 school year, Ferris Elementary’s school story is centered on building and strengthening the literacy skills of all our students. Early literacy continues to lie at the heart of our school-wide focus and vision. We recognize that strong foundational skills are essential for lifelong learning, and our renewed commitment is to foster robust literacy development for every learner—especially our developing and emerging language learners. We believe all students deserve the opportunity to become confident readers and writers, and our learning journey is grounded in data-informed decision-making, collaborative professional practice, and responsive instruction.
To understand our learners deeply and guide our next steps, we draw on a wide range of data sources. These include Kindergarten and Grade 1 SPARK assessments, ELL and resource teacher evaluations, FSA (Foundational Skills Assessment) results, classroom-based assessments, student learning surveys, report card information, and anecdotal feedback from staff. Through inquiry grants and dedicated time at staff meetings, we have collaborated to analyze this data and identify trends. Our teacher-librarian has also provided important insights into student reading interests and preferences. This comprehensive collection of evidence has allowed us to identify both strengths and areas where more targeted support is needed.
One of the most significant findings across our data is the ongoing need to strengthen student comprehension and decoding skills. We have listened carefully to our learners—both through their words and their choices—about what they enjoy reading, where they experience challenges, and what they are eager to learn next. Their voices continue to guide our classroom practices and help us prioritize resources that not only meet curriculum expectations but also spark curiosity and engagement in young readers.
To ensure our literacy practices remain responsive and impactful, staff engage in regular 10–15 minute discussions during staff meetings to reflect on student progress and explore instructional strategies. These conversations have been enriched through collaboration between teachers. This model has supported the development of targeted literacy initiatives and strengthened our culture of shared professional learning and collective responsibility.
In support of our literacy goals, we have developed and implemented a variety of practical resources, including literacy kits for primary classrooms that offer hands-on materials for early reading and writing instruction. We have also expanded our comprehension kits to align with the “Reading Power” framework and our school-wide coding workshops, helping students build their abilities to make connections, infer, and think critically about texts. These resources are accessible, adaptable, and responsive to the diverse needs of our learners.
Equity and inclusion remain central to our approach. With many of our students learning English as an additional language, our ELL teachers collaborate closely with classroom teachers to differentiate instruction and ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive. We also take intentional steps to reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of our community in the literature we offer, ensuring all students can see themselves represented in the stories they read.
Student voice continues to be an essential part of our literacy journey. We actively seek students’ perspectives on the kinds of stories they enjoy, topics they are curious about, and how they feel about their growth as readers. This student-centered approach strengthens engagement and nurtures a positive mindset around literacy development.
With HEART, Ferris Elementary’s school story is one of collaboration, responsiveness, and a shared journey toward improved early literacy. Grounded in meaningful data, guided by student input, and strengthened by a community of professional learning, we are continuing to build a literacy-rich culture that supports and uplifts every learner. Our work is ongoing, and we remain committed to refining our practices to ensure every student develops the skills and confidence needed to succeed as a reader and a lifelong learner.
